My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 182

§ 182. The Truth Behind the Curtain (4)

The Elanore Estate, nestled within the Elanore Territory.

More specifically, Isabel’s office inside the Elanore Estate.

Isabel gazed out the window, her attention drifting from her desk.

The expansive landscape of the Elanore Estate stretched out before her.

A majestic vista befitting Elanore’s esteemed reputation.

Yet, Isabel remained oblivious to the scenery.

It was a view she encountered daily.

“He received a baronetcy…”

The news concerned Cian, no less.

To be precise, the news of Cian’s baronetcy was the source of Isabel’s complicated thoughts.

Coupled with the events in Ruben, it stirred a whirlwind in Isabel’s mind.

“What… happened to Kai?”

Isabel inquired softly, her gaze still fixed on the world outside the window.

From behind her, the voice of Lerrit, the chief butler, responded.

“Fortunately, he appears to be unharmed. However… Master Kai seems reluctant to leave the training grounds.”

Isabel’s gaze shifted slightly downward.

Kai, who had been dispatched to Ruben under Durac’s orders.

However, instead of subduing Ruben as anticipated, Kai returned wounded.

This fact, along with Isabel’s reaction, sent ripples of unease through Elanore.

Subsequently, through the accounts of the White Wolf Knights and their leader, Eren, the events that transpired there were revealed.

And perhaps due to the shock of those revelations.

Kai had secluded himself in the training grounds, refusing to emerge.

“It seems he is determined to perfect his swordsmanship…”

Isabel offered no reply.

The secret swordsmanship passed down through the Elanore family.

It was this very art that established Elanore as the Empire’s foremost swordsmanship family.

However, a secret known only to the core members of Elanore existed.

More precisely, a secret confined to the Elanore bloodline.

That Elanore’s swordsmanship was, in truth, incomplete.

Or, to be more precise, it could be described as not a perfect swordsmanship.

Isabel herself was unaware of the reason behind this imperfection.

Whether it was left unfinished by a predecessor.

Or whether the Elanore of the previous generation had failed to fully inherit it.

Regardless of the cause, Elanore’s swordsmanship remained incomplete.

Thus, countless Elanores throughout history had strived to complete the secret technique.

Even Durac, the current head of the family, continued to pursue its completion.

For even in its incomplete state, this swordsmanship had elevated Elanore to the position of the continent’s premier sword family.

What heights could be reached if this swordsmanship were perfected?

The completion of the secret technique was Elanore’s long-cherished ambition and closely guarded desire.

Yet, all had failed.

Despite the desperate efforts of successive Elanores, the secret technique remained elusive.

No matter the means or methods employed, they could not bridge the missing gaps, the elements that had not been passed down.

Despite the endeavors of countless geniuses, the ultimate goal remained unattainable.

But if it were Kai…

He might possess the ability to succeed.

Kai, who possessed the most exceptional talent within Elanore.

The rising star of the Empire, a genius among geniuses destined to surpass Durac.

Kai might be the one to achieve completion.

If he were to perfect Elanore’s sword, Ruben would pose no problem.

The Rothschilds could be dismissed as insignificant.

In both name and reality, Elanore would reign as the Empire’s premier family.

The expectations Durac held for Kai extended beyond his exceptional talent; they were rooted in the potential for him to surpass his own achievements.

That was why, despite Kai’s seclusion in the training grounds.

Despite his return from a failed mission, Durac did not reprimand him.

Instead, he silently supported Kai in his self-imposed isolation.

“Where is the head of the family?”

“He has summoned all of his retainers. It appears… he is preparing for the territory war.”

Isabel nodded slightly.

Kai was Kai, and Cian was Cian.

And she could sense Durac’s simmering anger towards Cian.

Thus, this course of action was both natural and necessary.

However, one problem loomed.

“What is the budget that can be allocated?”

The budget limit, no less.

War demanded substantial funding.

However, Elanore’s current investment capacity was severely limited.

This was a direct consequence of the embezzlement of 82 million gold some time ago.

That embezzlement had depleted their financial resources.

Furthermore, despite the enormity of the sum, its whereabouts remained unknown.

Neither the source nor the destination had been discovered.

Consequently, recovery of the funds was deemed unlikely.

And that was why they hadn’t been able to identify the culprit yet.

However, circumstantial evidence pointed to a likely suspect.

“······”

Lerrit remained silent.

And Isabel did not rebuke him for it.

However, Isabel’s gaze, still directed out the window, hardened.

A strange silence descended, and the atmosphere in the office grew heavy.

Considering the current situation, a territory war seemed impossible.

The depleted budget left them struggling to meet basic needs, let alone finance a war.

In other words, they were forced to passively endure the brazen defiance while tightening their belts.

But.

All hope was not lost.

A slush fund, intended for unforeseen emergencies, existed.

However, she preferred to avoid its use if possible.

Deploying these funds carried inherent risks.

She intended to reserve them for a truly ‘inevitable situation’.

And now.

“Tell Soren. The time has come.”

It appeared the moment to tap into that slush fund had arrived.

“Soren…?”

The word ‘Soren’ was displayed on the smartphone screen.

Specifically, within Elanore’s ledger, where it was written countless times.

Amelia’s gaze was fixated on the instances of ‘Soren’.

It appeared to be… a person’s name.

And Cian was encountering the name for the first time.

“H, how…?”

But Amelia seemed to be familiar with it.

“Do you know him?”

Upon Cian’s inquiry, Amelia slowly raised her head.

“… Yes. I know him. There’s no way I wouldn’t… know him. But why is this person in Elanore’s ledger…?”

Amelia’s voice trembled as she spoke.

As if she had stumbled upon something forbidden.

An expression of disbelief, as if the impossible had occurred.

“Who is he that you’re acting like this?”

“I… I told you before, didn’t I? The reason for our Brahe family’s collapse.”

Cian nodded slowly.

Amelia had shared the details when she sought to become a territory citizen of Ruben.

In fact, most people within the Empire were aware of the story.

The collapse of the Brahe family had sent shockwaves throughout the Empire.

Even before hearing Amelia’s account, Cian was familiar with the events.

The Brahe Merchant Guild, poised to become the leading merchant guild in the Empire, surpassing even those in the western region.

The reason for its sudden collapse was not particularly complex.

Someone within the merchant guild had absconded with the Brahe Merchant Guild’s funds.

Not just one or two individuals, but a collective effort.

Yet, they remained uncaught.

Unable to withstand the financial strain, the Brahe Merchant Guild ultimately collapsed─.

“Wait a minute.”

Cian paused.

He was struck by the reason Amelia had suddenly brought up this story.

And by Amelia’s current expression as she stared at the name Soren.

The generally known facts extended to this point.

The Brahe Merchant Guild’s collapse was attributed to the embezzlement of funds.

This was the extent of public knowledge.

The additional information Cian had received from Amelia concerned those who had fled with the funds.

So now.

The name Soren appearing in the Elanore ledger.

“The mastermind behind the embezzlement of the Brahe Merchant Guild’s funds… is Soren.”

He was the architect of the Brahe family’s downfall.

In the past, the Brahe Merchant Guild, a prominent entity that dominated the western part of the Empire.

The Brahe Merchant Guild dealt in all manner of goods, without being overly selective.

It was said that they handled everything except what they didn’t possess.

The Brahe Merchant Guild was responsible for the logistics of the western part of the Empire at the time.

Furthermore, it was a super-giant merchant guild that extended its reach throughout the Empire.

But if you ask if the Brahe Merchant Guild became famous simply for that reason, that’s not the case.

Just as everyone has a first time.

It wasn’t like the Brahe Merchant Guild was a large merchant guild from the beginning.

It was accurate to say that the Brahe Merchant Guild also started from a small-scale merchant guild.

It started from peddlers who were embarrassed to be called small-scale.

However, it gradually increased its scale and eventually became a giant merchant guild that made its name known in the Empire.

And the decisive reason why the Brahe Merchant Guild was able to grow into a super-giant merchant guild.

That was none other than trust.

If you trade with Brahe, you will at least not lose money.

Brahe was truthful in all transactions.

Honestly in everything without ripping off prices or deceiving.

That’s why many people looked for Brahe,

Brahe was able to become the best merchant guild in the western part of the Empire in name and reality.

But now it’s just the glory of the past.

The name Brahe has disappeared into the annals of history.

The Brahe Merchant Guild, which collapsed in an instant a few years ago.

The reason was none other than someone inside the family ran away with the guild’s funds.

The estimated amount of funds lost at that time was about 340 million gold.

The Empire was literally in an uproar as an absurd amount of money disappeared.

Of course, Cian also knew that fact.

No, it was accurate to say that almost no one in the Empire, not just Cian, didn’t know.

And the name Soren that is now visible.

“Uncle Soren… was the person my father trusted and relied on the most.”

Soren, who had worked for the Brahe Merchant Guild for a long time.

Soren was the person Amelia’s father, that is, Baron Brahe, trusted and relied on the most.

Soren had been working for the Brahe Merchant Guild before Amelia was born.

Even after Amelia was born, he had been working for the Brahe Merchant Guild.

Even until the Brahe Merchant Guild collapsed.

Soren had been working for the Brahe Merchant Guild.

Amelia relied on Soren a lot.

She learned a lot as a merchant.

Soren was like another family to Amelia, who had no other family.

But everything is poison if it’s too much.

Brahe had treated people with trust.

Ironically, that trust became the decisive factor that brought down Brahe.

“No one in the family believed that Uncle Soren would do such a thing…”

It is said that no one in the family believed it.

Rather, they covered up Soren, saying it was a false fact, and denied the fact.

Amelia, as well as Amelia’s father, stepped forward and investigated the matter in detail.

And the reality they faced was cold.

As the investigation progressed, Soren’s circumstances became more prominent.

Rather, they were able to find out that not only Soren but also many people they had trusted were involved.

Thus, the disappeared funds.

340 million gold.

No matter how much Brahe was a merchant guild that dominated the western part of the Empire.

They couldn’t be okay even in front of 340 million gold.

No, it wasn’t even possible to bring in any merchant guild on the continent.

They couldn’t be okay in front of 340 million gold.

Brahe was shaken and eventually collapsed.

Of course, it didn’t collapse in an instant.

Perhaps because they had been treating each other with trust.

It is said that many people helped Brahe.

To be exact.

“Even those people who believed in me… all turned their backs and left…”

They were going to help.

Amelia’s father asked the reason.

That’s because it was strange.

It would be one thing if they hadn’t helped from the beginning.

It was really strange that they said they would help.

Even in the midst of giving help, they suddenly turned around.

So Amelia’s father went to the people and asked the reason.

They didn’t say anything.

The only two things Amelia’s father could hear were.

I’m sorry.

We couldn’t help it either.

Brahe showed trust and faith, but what came back was betrayal in the end.

But was Brahe still Brahe?

“My father thought that something was going on. He said that there must be a reason why those people had no choice but to do so.”

Even so, Amelia’s father believed in them.

To be exact, he thought that there was some reason why they had no choice but to do so.

So Amelia’s father tried to dig up the secret.

It is said that he was able to dig up the reason to some extent.

However, he couldn’t tell Amelia.

That’s because.

“That was… my father’s last appearance.”

The dead had no words.

“My father said this to me when he left for the last time.”

‘Amelia, there are things in the world that you can’t buy with money. Power that transcends money. I still don’t regret trusting people… But… I regret not having power and influence too much…’

That’s how the Brahe family and merchant guild collapsed.

What was left was Amelia.

And her escort knight, Lucas.

Family and family.

Amelia, who lost everything in an instant.

Even so, Amelia did not give up.

In order to revive the fallen family.

In order to regain the glory of the past, Amelia stood up tenaciously.

And the various insults and humiliations she experienced in the process.

The many humiliations she had to endure as a woman.

Unlike her dreams, the wall of reality was too high, but Amelia did not give up.

She persevered and endured, overcoming reality.

And she finally met Cian and came to this point.

“But… how is Uncle Soren here in the Elanore ledger…?”

Amelia muttered blankly.

And perhaps the shock was not small.

Amelia’s eyes, looking at the smartphone screen, were blurred.

At that moment.

Ding!

『[Territory Quest] – ‘That Elanore, they’re all bad guys!’』

Along with the cheerful smartphone notification sound, the territory quest notification window popped up.

▶You, who have become independent from Elanore, who was restricting Ruben!

A world only for you!

This is my world! It’s a world I made!

Now, there is no one to restrict you!

All that’s left is to fly high and make Ruben’s name known!

Of course!
You have to take into account Elanore’s retaliation!

What? You didn’t know they would retaliate?

Don’t lie!

After seeing what you’ve done, can you say that!

You’ve not only stabbed them in the back but also slapped them hard on the cheek!

If you get caught by Elanore, you’ll probably be torn to pieces!

Ha ha! So you have to prepare!

So you were trying to prepare in your own way!

Oh?

What… is this?

Elanore stole Charlotte’s swordsmanship…? [Referring to a previous event where Elanore was accused of plagiarizing Charlotte’s unique sword techniques.]

Oh my gosh!!

Is this really true?!

Besides… what??

Elanore is the main culprit who brought down the Brahe Merchant Guild?

No, it seems to be related to the main culprit?!

What is this!!

The more you dig, the more bizarre stories come out about Elanore!

What kind of family is Elanore?

And is this the end?

Or is there a more hideous truth hidden behind the curtain?!

We can’t know that!

The truth is hidden behind the curtain and not known to the world!